January - The Pit of Despair

hamster

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Normally you'd expect these days to be happy right (in theory)? I mean it's a new fresh years full of expectations. Another one behind and looking forward fresh and all that malarky.

I myself, find January a tough and depressing month. I always take long vacations (2 weeks) going through to the new year. January for me, reminds me of going back to work after the fun of xmas and the rest - but like a stomach I forget the appreciate of relaxing and not looking at the watch upon my return. I dread returning to work and living up to the deadlines promised and looming ahead. Work would be great without deadlines - either that or take away the pressure when unexpected things crop and are not allowed to be taken into consideration.
It's not so bad after you are back one week back... but the day before heading back can feel like a 25% fall in ISEQ in 1 day. It's sooo depressing. It always affects the mood for celebrating the new year. I'd love to look forward to it but never do. A year later I look back and wonder what the worry was about - but gee it never changes. Anyone ever feel like that?

I try to counter act it by reading a new book or taking up a new interest but it can be tricky.

cinnamon

if you find work so depressing would you consider changing your job/occupation?
I felt like that and have gone back to college as a mature student - I have sacrificed a lot for this but knowing i will someday be in a job i love makes up for it

rediguana

HEY! That's my birthday month you're talking about.

People will be slagging off 1980 next.

fade2black

rediguana wrote:

HEY! That's my birthday month you're talking about.

People will be slagging off 1980 next.

They wouldn't dare. Magic things happened that year.

lilrayosunshine

I like January!
I'm not a fan of December so I'm always glad when it's over.. I also have never had more than 3 days off over xmas then 2 for NY.. so I don't have to go through the dragging myself back to work trauma.

Most people do find it a hard month though as SAD starts to set in in Jan and you generally have nothing to look forward to..
Book a holiday for Feb/March and that way you have something to look forward to and may not feel so blue!

Rb

fade2black wrote:

They wouldn't dare. Magic things happened that year.

Aye, a woman in Waterford gave birth through her anus. It was the first time in history and there hasn't been anything of the kind since


OP: Since you dread going back to work so much, why don't you consider changing to a job that would be more self-fulfilling? One that you'd be excited to go back to and would really enjoy? Lifes short afterall, and theres no point in staying somewhere you're unhappy until you're 63 and are finally "free".

Or go back to college perhaps?Or take a year or so out and go travelling around the world?

mike65

January 24th is the most depressing day of the year apparently.

Mike.

whiskeyman

It's the hype about New Years / resolutions etc... that probably bring people down.... that, and a Christmas hangover (physically, mentally and financially!).
Personally, I can't stand the hype, and have lowered my expectations for the January period. However, I've planned short breaks in Feb, Mar and April to look forward to Before I know it, the days will be getting brighter and other things will come along.

daiixi

I've taken to arranging a holiday for the third week in January for the past few years and make sure I have plenty of other things to look forward to as well. If you follow the "I have no money because I overspent in December and therefore can't go out" train of thought then yeah, I can understand you feeling down. Anyway remember: January is one month closer to summer!!!

Nevyn

I like January it is the last of the dark months and you can enjoy the repose before spring hits.

And really this thread gives me the giggles and reminds me of the princess bride.
Why don't you try watch a good movie nearly every night in January old classics and good giggles and ones you ment to watch but never got around to.

Might as well enjoy the last of the dark evenings.

lilrayosunshine

mike65 wrote:

January 24th is the most depressing day of the year apparently.

Mike.

2007's most depressing day of the year is to be Jauary 22nd because:
It's a Monday
It's been ages since last payday
It's still a week to next payday
Sale buzz is over
Days are still dark
Weather is at it's coldest
You are trying to lose all the weight you put on over xmas and are probably starving yourself and therefore feeling down

Did I mention it's a Monday?

Dirk Gently

January is great, it's the furthest point until the next christmas season and it will be a good 5 or 6 months untill people start asking you "are you all set for christmas".

hamster

clown bag wrote:

January is great, it's the furthest point until the next christmas season and it will be a good 5 or 6 months untill people start asking you "are you all set for christmas".

Ha Ha! That's a good way of looking at it. Why not do your xmas 2007 shopping in the January sales?

dame

Seriously, change job.

cooker3

My finals are happening in January which will be fun but I also have some things to look forward to so am fairly ambivilant. I would say you need to book or do something which will make you dread it less, even a little thing will help.

Marksie

I always burn a log in the fire and let the bad things that happened last year burn with it, then just sit and plan what i would like to do next year and look forward to all the good things that are going to happen.
So i look at january as a time for taking stock and moving forward, perhpas you could do that?

nitrogen

Regarding the 22/24 of January being the most depressing: http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/badscience/story/0,,1973442,00.html

I agree with an early trip away or weekend breaks. It is the best time of year for an adventure; I've also found my moods are lifted on return for weeks.

As they say, things could be worse. You might have no job, then the boredom would drive you insane, no matter where you were.

Cutie18Ireland

I love January!! but then again my birthday is smack bang in the middle of it

Savman

It's not January's fault...

The_B_Man

januarys a fairly bland month alright. tho i hae all of february to look after. between me and me mates, theres 5 of us who have bdays in february, plus one or 2 more associates and a mate on march 3rd. so thats averaging like 2 birthdays a week plus valentines day on top of that. busy busy. im gonna use january for a rest tbh.

BeardyGit

I don't get it. Sure, January is generally cold with short days and long nights, yadda yadda.

What do I like about January?

1. Frost on the grass, cracking under early morning footsteps when I put out the bins or writing childish things on peoples frozen windscreens on the way to the LUAS

2. The possibility that it just might snow. You just never know. And I'm a big kid.

3. 5-6 weeks between paydays. It's nice to see people find other things to do with their time than spend more than they can afford. I invite my broke friends round for dinner and drinks knowing damn well they're too skint to go out on the batter. That makes me feel good - It's like running my own posh soup kitchen Seriously - Spend time with your friends instead of money. You'll enjoy their company better for it. And make sure you take stock and realise this is something to be happy about.

4. Going to town later in the month when everyone else is too broke paying their credit card bills and overdrafts - It's my personal time to reclaim these overcrowded streets, free of panic spenders and 'bargain hunters' who don't realise it's not a bargain, it's just a way to get blood from a stone. I only have to contend with the umbrella brigade which isn't so bad.... Dublin (in my case) is a great city when it's not chock full of people buying stuff they don't need, at any time of year.

5. Writing emails to all the people who sent me text messages over christmas and new year, and who are now pished with me because I had more important things to do with my time than boost a mobile operators profits. 80 million texts you lot sent. That's around €8m spent sending Happy Christmas/New Year greetings :rolleyes: Don't worry though - If you're one of my friends struggling to pay a mobile bill now, I'll invite you round for dinner Either way, I'm happy I had more sense. And happy I can actually share the details of my rather extraordinary Christmas with you - Something I couldn't do in a text.

6. Booking time off work. The 2007 annual leave system is now open in work. It's time to figure out how I'll enjoy spending what everyone else spent over Christmas.....

There are lots of reasons to enjoy January, and any day/week/month etc. You just need to look for aspects that make you feel happy. For me, it's being happy to have had a wonderful Christmas with people I love, without breaking the bank. I'll spend my January thinking of new ways to enjoy this realisation.

You'll also 'enjoy' 70+ of them during your lifetime. So you'd better find something in it to enjoy, or you'll be revisiting whatever your personal misery is each and every year.

Remeber the imortal words of He-Man, standing at the gates of Castle Grayskull when he roared "I haaaave the Po-Werrrr!"

Go forth and multiply....Another great way to enjoy a cold, dark January

Gil